Slingshot-type device with elastic propulsion means

ABSTRACT

A slingshot type device for projecting shots or arrows. The device has a carriage which has the ends of two elastic members attached thereto. The carriage is manually moved forwardly on guide rails, during which time the elastic members are stretched. While the carriage is being moved forwardly the opposite ends of the elastic members are attached to a gate member. The carriage is moved forwardly until it becomes locked to the forward end of the device. A trigger is operated on to permit the gate member to pivot and release the tensioned elastic members to project a projectile.

United States Patent 1191 Burghardt Dec. 31, 1974 SLINGSHOT-TYPE DEVICEWITH ELASTIC PROPULSION MEANS [76] Inventor: Edward Lewis Burghardt, PO.Box

130, Vernal, Utah 84078 22 Filed: Apr. 11, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 350,055

[52] US. Cl. 124/20 R, l24/20 B, 124/41,

- [51] Int. Cl. F4lb 7/00 [58] Field of Search 124/35 R, 27, 28, 29, 17,

. l24/20R, 20 B, 41, 22; 43/6, 19

[56] References Cited UNITED'STATES PATENTS 2,842,114 7/195s Duncan124/35 x 3,741,190 6/1973 Lopez.....- 43/6 X FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 5/1924 Germany 124/20 R Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo,Assistant ExaminerWilliam R. Browne Attorney, Agent, 0r FirmR0bert E.Krebs [57] ABSTRACT A slingshot type device for projecting shots orarrows.

The device has a carriage which has the ends of two elastic membersattached thereto. The carriage is manually moved forwardly on guiderails, during which time .the elastic members are stretched. While thecarriage is being moved forwardly the opposite ends ofthe elasticmembers are attached to a gate member. The carriage is moved forwardlyuntil it becomes locked to the forward end of the device. A trigger isoperated on to permit the gate member to pivot and release the tensionedelastic members to project a projectile.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SLINGSI-IOT-TYPE'DEVICE WITH ELASTICPROPULSION MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the-InventionThis invention generallyrelates to a slingshot type device for shootingsmall shot and, more particularly, to such a device which is cockedandthen selectively released;

v2. Introduction to the Invention My invention provides a novel andimproved slightshot-like device which is both powerful and safe. .It isBRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS- Further advantages of my inventionmay be readily understood by referring to the following description andappended illustrations, which are offered by way of example only and notinv limitation of the invention, whose scope is defined by the appendedclaims and equivalents, and not by any preceding description. In

the drawings:

FIG. 1 is aside view ofadevice according to my invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view ofa particular modification of the device of FIG.1-;

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail taken along the line 33 in FIG. I viewed inthe directions of the arrows. and enlarged for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a detail view, partially cutaway and enlarged for-clarity, ofthe portion of the device encompased by thecurved arrows 44 in FIG. 1which illustrates another position of the components of the-device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional detail taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4, viewedin the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 6 is aprespective-view, enlarged for clarity of a particularcomponent of the device of FIG. 1.

In the drawings, components are given a unique reference number whichthey keep. no matter how many views the component are shown in, therebyto assist the reader in understanding the detail views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ,My device, as shown in FIG. 1, generally resemblesa rifle. It includes a shoulder-piece 11 with an integral forearm 13which serves as a frame for fixedly supporting two forwardly extending,parallel members 21 and 22. The members 21 and 22 are tubes (see FIG. 3)and,

forth the length of the tubes. The carriage 28 comprises a pair ofcylindrical members 29 and 30 which are externally fixed together andwhich slidably embrace the respective tubes 21 and 22. A lever member 34extends substantially below and perpendicular to the lower 0y lindricalmember 30. The carriage 28 also comprises a pair. of cars 36a and 36bwhich fixedly extend upward and outward from the upper cylindricalmember 29. When viewed from the rear of the device, the ears form a yshape with the lever 34 (see FIG. 3).

The carriage 28comprising the tubular members 29 and 30, the ears 36aand 36b, and the lever 34'is releasably caught at theforward end of theguide tubes 21 and 22 by a catch member 41. The catch member 41 is-aresilient arm whose one end is connected to the cap 26 and whose otherend is barbed to ride up onto the forward end of the carriage. Thecarriage has a slot 39 at its forward end into which the barb drops anda peg 43 is fixed to one of the tubes to stop the forward movement ofthe carriage after the barb has seated in the carriage.

A pair of elastic members 46a and 46b are fitted over 7 the ends of theears 36a and 36b. The elastics may, for

example, be surgical-type rubber tubing. In the preferred embodiment,the ends of the ears 36a and'36b are bent back and the tubing is slippedthereover; in such an arrangement, the resilient tubing holds to theears even when stretchedsomewhat in the manner of a Chinese fingerpuzzle. The other ends of the. two elastics are connected to a pouch/48which holds shotor the like and which is typical with slingshots- Agate, generally designated 51, is provided to selectively retain ashot-containing pouch when the elastics 46a and 46b are stretched. Thegate includes a vertical support member 53 whose lower end is fixed tothe stock 11 and whoseupper end is bent'cross'wise over the stock. Abushing 55 is rotatably mounted on the cross-wise end of the support anda pair of parallel rods 56a and 56b fixedly extend from the bushing toswing on the support above the stock. (FIG. 1 shows the rods 56a and56b. swinging forward.) The rods are spaced apart so that the pouch'canbe pulled therethrough when it is doubled-over empty but not when itholds shot. i I

A means 58 is mounted on the stock and is activated by the trigger 17 toselectively-stop the rods from swinging forward. The illustrated stopmeans includes a member having a broadened'chisel-shapedupper end 59 anda stern 59a. The means 58 is normally biased upward so that thebroadened upper end interfereswith the swinging of the rods 56a and 56b.The lower end of the stem 58 is connected to the trigger 17 so thatpulling the trigger causes the stop means 58 to movedowntransversely-extending slot 61 which maintains the broadened end ofthe stop means lengthwise across the stock 11. In other words, the stopmeans is kept in a position such that, when raised, it will stop theswinging of the gate.

In the illustrated embodiment, the trigger 17 comprises a generallyL-shaped lever into whose apex is fixed a bushing 63 which, in turn, isrotatably mounted on an axle 65. The axle is fixed between a pair offlanges 67 which are fixed into a cavity 62 formed in the stock 11. Theforwardly extending end 69 of the trigger 17 engages a circumferentialslot 71 formed in the stem 59a of the stop means 58 so that the sternfollows the trigger l7 and visa-versa.

In the illustrated embodiment, a coil spring 64 is mounted so as tonormally urge the stem upward, thereby pivoting the trigger clockwise.Accordingly, when the trigger is pulled, the spring is placed incompression and the stop piece is pulled downward, thereby releasing thegate 51.

It should be clearly understood, however, that many arrangements couldbe devised whereby the trigger could activate the gate stop means, andthat the aforedescribed linkage is exemplary only.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment wherein the device of FIG. 1 ismodified for shooting arrows. An arrow guide member 71, comprising anenlogated piece having an arrow-holding groove 72 formed lengthwisealong its upper surface, is fixed to the top of the forearm 13. Theillustrated arrow guide member has a forward end which extends forwardthrough the spacedapart ears 36a and 36b thereby to offer furtherguidance to an arrow. The rearward end of the arrow-guide member 71 mayextend back past the gate 51 so long as clearance is provided for therods 56a and 56b to swing and, also, so long as a slot is provided forthe stop means 58 to rise to contact the rods. Also, in thismodification, the afore-mentioned pouch is replaced by a bowstring 48awhich is fixed at opposite ends to the elastics 46a and 46b.

In operation of the device of FIG. 1, a shot is placed in thedoubled-over pouch 48 and the gate is swing clockwise so that the rods56a and 56b pinch the pouch therebetween, thereby holding the shot inthe pouch. Then the trigger is relaxed so that the stop means is biasedupward stopping the rods from swinging forward therepast (see FIG. Thenthe carriage is moved forward by pressure on the lever 34 until thecarriage is caught by the catch means 41, thereby placing the elasticsin tension and cocking the device. The force on the lever 34 is easilyapplied by foot. It should be noted that when foot pressure is appliedagainst the lever, the device will normally be pointed downward so that,should it unexpectedly release, the shot will be propelled downward; inother words, the device is quite safe to cock.

The cocking procedure for the embodiment of FIG. 2 is exactly the same,except that the bowstring 48a, which replaces the pouch 48, is slippedaround the two rods 56a and 56b. Furthermore, the arrow is set in thegroove 72 in the arrow guide 71 only after the device has been cocked.

Thereafter, the device can be aimed and fired. That is, the trigger ispulled to lower the stop means, thereby to release the gate means 51 toallow the rods 56a and 56b to swing forward. The elastics 46a and 46bwill then snap forward propelling the shot at the target. In thisconnection, it should be noted that the preferred dimensions of thedevice comprise an important safety feature. To wit; the length of thestock 11 (i.e., the distance from the butt end to the gate 51) shouldexceed the relaxed length of the elastic members 46a and 46b;consequently, ifthe elastics should break before the device is fired,they will not snap back far enough to injure the shooters face. 7

The foregoing description is illustrative only and many othermodifications-of the aforedescribed device, in addition to those alreadymentioned, will readily suggest themselves to a person skilled in theart without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sling-shot type device comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a guide having a free end and being fixedly connected to said frameand extending from said frame;

c. a carriage means adapted to slide forwardly along the guide whiletensioning elastic members anchored thereto so as to project aprojectile, said carriage means includes an integral lever member foruse in pressing said carriage toward the free end of said guide and apair of bifurcated members fixedly connected to the carriage means andwhich extend outwardly from said carriage means;

d. catch means connected to said free end of said guide and adapted toselectively catch and hold said carriage near said free end;

e. a pair of elongated elastic members, each of which is connected atone end to a corresponding one ofsaid bifurcated members;

f. means flexibly connecting the other ends of said elastic memberstogether;

g. gate means mounted on said frame for selectively and directly holdingsaid connecting means when said carriage means is slid towards andcaught at said free end of said guide thereby to place said elasticmembers in tension and for selectively releasing said elastic membersthrough a pivotal movement thereof under bias of the elastic members topermit disengagement of the connecting means from said gate means; and

h. trigger means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to saidgate means to release the same by moving said trigger means.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said guide comprise a pair ofspaced-apart parallel members.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said gate means comprises aparallel pair of spaced-apart rods, which are mounted to swing'about anaxis which is fixed transversely to the direction of the motion of saidcarriage means and spaced thereabove, said rods being spaced apartenough to hold said connecting means therebetween when said connectingmeans encompases a shot. 1

4. Advice according -to claim 3 wherein said gate means further includesmeans actuated by said trigger means to selectively restrain saidspaced-apart .rods from swinging below said axis.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said means actuated by saidtrigger means comprises a member mounted for reciprocative motionaccording to the position of said trigger means and which, in oneposition, interferes with the swinging of said rods and, in anotherposition, frees said rods to swing.

6. A device according to claim 1 which further includes a member mountedon said frame, said member having an open-topped groove formed thereinwhich extends parallel to the direction of contractive motion of saidelastic member which is positioned to hold an arrow to be propelled bysaid elastic members.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes a shoulderpiece for holding said device in a rifle-like fashion and the length ofsaid shoulder piece from its end to said gate means exceeds the naturallength of said elastic members.

lever member for use in pressing said carriage toward the free end ofsaid guide members and a pair of bifurcated ears which fixedly extendoutwardly from said carriage;

d. catch means connected to said free ends of said guide members andadapted to selectively catch and hold said carriage near said free end;

e. a pair of elongated elastic members, each of which is connected atone end to a corresponding end of said bifurcated ears;

f. means flexibly connecting the outer ends of said elastic memberstogether;

g. gate means mounted on said frame for directly engaging saidconnecting means and for selectively releasing and holding saidconnecting means after said carriage means is slid towards and caughtand held at the free end of said guide members thereby to place saidelastic members in tension, said gate means including a parallel pair ofspaced-apart rods which are mounted to swing on a shaft which is fixedtransversely to the direction of motion of said carriage so that saidrods hang downward therefrom, said rods being spaced apart sufficientlyto hold said connecting means therebetween when said connecting'meansencompases a shot;

h. trigger means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to saidgate means'to release the same by moving said trigger, said triggermeans including a member operatively connected thereto to selectivelyprevent the rods from swinging therepast.

1. A sling-shot type device comprising: a. a frame; b. a guide having afree end and being fixedly connected to said frame and extending fromsaid frame; c. a carriage means adapted to slide forwardly along theguide while tensioning elastic members anchored thereto so as to projecta projectile, said carriage means includes an integral lever member foruse in pressing said carriage toward the free end of said guide and apair of bifurcated members fixedly connected to the carriage means andwhich extend outwardly from said carriage means; d. catch meansconnected to said free end of said guide and adapted to selectivelycatch and hold said carriage near said free end; e. a pair of elongatedelastic members, each of which is connected at one end to acorresponding one of said bifurcated members; f. means flexiblyconnecting the other ends of said elastic members together; g. gatemeans mounted on said frame for selectively and directly holding saidconnecting means when said carriage means is slid towards and caught atsaid free end of said guide thereby to place said elastic members intension and for selectively releasing said elastic members through apivotal movement thereof under bias of the elastic members to permitdisengagement of the connecting means from said gate means; and h.trigger means mounted on said frame and operatively connected to saidgate means to release the same by moving said trigger means.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said guide comprise a pair of spaced-apartparallel members.
 3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said gatemeans comprises a parallel pair of spaced-apart rods, which are mountedto swing about an axis which is fixed transversely to the direction ofthe motion of said carriage means and spaced thereabove, said rods beingspaced apart enough to hold said connecting means therebetween when saidconnecting means encompases a shot.
 4. Advice according to claim 3wherein said gate means further includes means actuated by said triggermeans to selectively restrain said spaced-apart rods from swinging belowsaid axis.
 5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said means actuatedby said trigger means comprises a member mounted for reciprocativemotion according to the position of said trigger means and which, in oneposition, interferes with the swinging of said rods and, in anotherposition, frees said rods to swing.
 6. A device according to claim 1which further includes a member mounted on said frame, said memberhaving an open-topped groove formed therein which extends parallel tothe direction of contractive motion of said elastic member which ispositioned to hold an arrow to be propelled by said elastic members. 7.A device according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes a shoulderpiece for holding said device in a rifle-like fashion and the length ofsaid shoulder piece from its end to said gate means exceeds the naturallength of said elastic members.
 8. A sling-shot type device comprising:a. a frame including a shoulder stock to be held in a rifle-likefashion; b. a pair of parallel, spaced-apart guide members fixedlyextending from said frame; c. a carriage means which is slidablydisposed on said guide members and which includes an integral levermember for use in pressing said carriage toward the free end of saidguide members and a pair of bifurcated ears which fixedly extendoutwardly from said carriage; d. catch means connected to said free endsof said guide members and adapted to selectively catch and hold saidcarriage near said free end; e. a pair of elongated elastic members,each of which is connected at one end to a corresponding end of saidbifurcated ears; f. means flexibly connecting the outer ends of saidelastic members together; g. gate means mounted on said frame fordirectly engaging said connecting means and for selectively releasingand holding said connecting means after said carriage means is slidtowards and caught and held at the free end of said guide membersthereby to place said elastic members in tension, said gate meansincluding a parallel pair of spaced-apart rods which are mounted toswing on a shaft which is fixed transversely to the direction of motionof said carriage so that said rods hang downward therefrom, said rodsbeing spaced apart sufficiently to hold said connecting meanstherebetween when said connecting means encompases a shot; h. triggermeans mounted on said frame and operatively connected to said gate meansto release the same by moving said trigger, said trigger means includinga member operatively connected thereto to selectively prevent the rodsFrom swinging therepast.